by Brown, Tara
Dear God, she’s older than I thought.
Jesus, Josh . . .
We muddle through appetizers and more people joining our weird table of odds and ends. Stan would have fit in perfectly with these people, but Sukii and I are sore thumbs.
Finally, the bridal party shows up. We cheer and smile as they take their places at the head table.
Matt stands, offering his glass. “On behalf of Sami and I, and of course our son, Eli, and our families, we want to thank you all for canceling whatever plans you had for the weekend and instead, joining us so suddenly.” He smirks at Sami who laughs loudly. “On this magical weekend. You have made it the exact event Sami and I wanted it to be. We will always remember and celebrate the memories we’ve made and joy you brought to this week. So thank you and cheers!”
It’s far more eloquent than I expected and when Sami stands to raise her glass to us, she is illuminated. “Cheers!”
They drink and we drink and the night can begin.
A stout beer and a feast are immediately brought out. Mugs of beer and plates are rushed to every table but laid before us so smoothly I doubt the precision effort is a fluke. Sami has hired the best of the best for everything.
The plate is unexpected but welcomed: two sizeable stuffed Yorkshire puddings with juicy roasted meat and hot au jus next to caramelized carrots and crispy beets.
“Oh thank God. I thought for sure it would be some bullshit froufrou meal,” Sukii whispers and I laugh, joined by Marla and a man I’ve already forgotten the name of.
We cut into the food and quietly moan into the first bite. Combined with the beer, it’s perfection. We eat and drink as more speeches take place.
Carson, Sami’s father, Nat, and Brady all make funny and touching speeches. Sami smiles brightly and Matt nods as if offering approval.
Finally, Lori gets up. He’s taken off his jacket and his tie is noticeably missing. He doesn’t have the refined appearance he had during the ceremony, but this is more real.
He stands at the discreetly adorned podium. “Good evening, everyone. This will conclude the speeches, since Sami hates them and we had to force her to allow these few.” He winks at her, making her blush and wrinkle her nose. “But as the final speaker of the evening, I want you all to raise your mugs one last time before we get this party started. To my friends, the family that chose me, Matt and Sami”—he turns to them, speaking directly—“your love inspires great hope that happily ever after exists. Your faith in each other is the currency all hearts wish to spend. Your strength in overcoming the tests that have burdened your relationship is the foundation needed to make a love that will outlast your mortality. And being here to witness it was a privilege I’m sure none of us knows how we earned the right to. Congratulations on your wedding and thank you for inspiring us all.”
Sami blinks and tears stream her cheeks for the first time since she said her vows.
Matt presses his lips into a thin line.
It’s as if Lori has seen them in a way no one else managed.
Not even Brady and Nat.
He’s good at that, and I don’t know if it means he’s far deeper a person than I’ve given him credit for or he’s a better actor than I imagined.
They nod and lift their glasses.
“To Matt and Sami!” Lori calls and we shout with him, clinking our beers.
“That was insanely good,” Sukii whispers. “Who knew young Lawrence was more than a pretty face?”
“He seems to have his moments,” I comment and swallow the lump his speech brought to my throat.
Matt stands up, silencing the room with his massive presence. He offers Sami his hand. She beams, taking it and letting him lead her to the dance floor outside on the veranda.
A different band takes the stage and begins to play a song I recognize.
“Oh my God, is that the Lumineers?” Sukii gasps.
“What?” I stare at the musicians for a moment before smiling. “Oh my God. It is.”
“Oh, this is ‘Stubborn Love.’ I love this song.” Sukii leans into me, making me sway with her as we watch them dance.
Sami is staring at Matt, making that face that screams “blissfully in love.” His stare back at her is intense, so hot it has to burn his eyes.
“Damn,” Sukii says.
I nod, feeling like a voyeur who shouldn’t be witnessing this.
“Never thought I would see that look on his face,” Bev whispers as she slides in next to me to watch.
“You and me both.” Her grandma from Kentucky snorts, shaking her head like she might live in an eternal state of disappointment in Matt. Something I like her for.
She and the family from his father’s side are unexpected in all the best ways. They make Matt human, unlike his cyborg mother and sister-in-law who seem frozen and untouched by everything.
As with Lawrence, Matt is more than I expected. And his stiffness is complemented by the lightness and energy of Sami. She animates him and draws out his emotions. He reminds me of my dad, and I imagine the struggle is painful for him, but the fruit his efforts bear are worthwhile. He is incandescently in love, lit up by the flame Sami carries and adds to even the smallest of things.
Not a single person in our office believed in this romance, but being here with them for the last four days, I cannot imagine a more perfect balance.
My gaze drifts to Brady and Nat and I realize I’m wrong.
Somehow these four people were not only given beauty, wealth, and success but also true love and a great friendship.
The catacomb in my chest where my heart once sat fills with envy. I don’t wish to have what they do; but as Lawrence said, I want to find a love like theirs, on my terms. I want someone to stare at me the way Matt is watching Sami.
The Lumineers finish the song and bow, offering Sami a wave. “Congratulations!”
“Thank you, I can’t believe you came. Thank you!” She waves back as they leave the stage and a different band comes on. I didn’t know Sami could fangirl, but she visibly adores the Lumineers and it’s sort of adorable and unexpected.
The new group onstage is the cover band Bev was talking about and the instant they start to play, it’s obvious she hasn’t exaggerated their greatness. They choose one of my favorite songs as their opening; it’s from Tangled. Grace Potter, “Something That I Want.” I love that movie.
The crowd moves in on Sami and Matt, swallowing them.
Hands grab mine. Bev and Sukii drag me onto the floor. The lights above us in the lattice of the pergola pulse with the beat.
My hands fly into the air and my body starts moving.
The melancholy of the envious moment I was having is gone and the beats drive me.
Sukii was right. This is going to be a top night!
No holds barred.
Nothing but fun.
16
Little Drummer Girl
Lori
I slam back another shot at the bar and nod my head to the song playing.
“This is the best wedding I’ve ever been to,” Cap says loudly, shouting over the group who turned out to be the best cover band I’ve ever heard. They’re crushing “Brown Sugar” by the Stones to the point even Mick would be impressed.
“Me too,” I agree and turn, following Cap’s eyes to the dance floor where the little brunette he’s not so discreetly banging is dancing up a storm with Jenny and Beverly.
They’ve been at it for hours, drinking and dancing, and now everyone is lit.
The outdoor room is crowded and rocking. The lights make it feel like a proper club.
“Sami killed this.”
“She’ll easily be able to make this a package and sell it,” I say with a laugh. “So weird. You’d never met such a spoiled lazy girl in your whole life.” My voice cracks as my gaze follows Sami across the dance floor. “And then she meets that schmuck and all she wants is to earn his respect. Now she’s a workaholic.”
“How long have you known her?”<
br />
“I’ve known her for a while, but we’ve only become friends in this last bit. I don’t think she paid any attention to me though our families have known each other forever. Same with Matt. I guess our dads were friends. Probably shared mistresses.” I chuckle and give him a side-glance. “Speaking of which,” I face the bar again, lowering my voice and leaning in, “you’ve never struck me as someone who would—”
“I’m not. I know what you’re about to say but it’s not like that. Sandy left me last summer, right before the start of the season. Sukii's the first person I’ve hooked up with in almost a year.” He pauses. “I didn’t want the media attention and bullshit so I didn’t say anything. Sandy’s filing and we’re hoping it can be swept under the rug.”
“I’m sorry, man.”
“Thanks, Lori. I should have said something before but—”
“Like I said, Cap, you don’t come across as someone who’d do that sort of thing. You owe no one an explanation. I know who you are.” I slap him on the arm and hold my fingers up for the bartender.
She winks and stalks over, lifting the bottle and pouring.
“I don’t think I can do another.” Cap waves it off but I lift it, insisting.
“Drink up.”
We clank the glasses and shoot the sipping tequila like assholes. He shudders, making me laugh.
Sami appears out of nowhere, grabbing my hand. “Why aren’t you dancing, Lori? You’ve barely danced with me.” She pulls me away from Cap as “Another One Bites the Dust” starts up.
In her massive dress, Sami spins me, sending me shooting into the crowd with a giggle.
She and Nat attack, dancing seductively.
Matt lifts a drink in my direction from his hiding spot. I flip him off but dance along as they sandwich me, sliding hands and bodies up and down me. The booze is hitting, and I catch a glimpse of the face in front of me. Sami beams, flawlessly.
Someone grabs my hands, spinning and depositing me in the middle of the dance floor, and I turn to find a mess of red curls being pulled from a pinned bun. The scent of cherries wafts in and saves me. Her locks tumble down right in front of me, mesmerizing me in the flashing lights and the beat of the music.
Jenny turns and stares briefly before her eyes light up. I want to kiss her glossy lips. The shot hits and I stumble forward and somehow the movement starts us dancing.
Jenny can dance and I’m feeling everything all at once: booze, attraction, the need to fuck. I get lost in it, in her.
The song ends and the two of us are standing across from each other, awkwardly.
“You’re a good dancer,” she offers and wipes her face.
“You too but I guess I already knew that.” I lay down the grin.
She rolls her eyes, somehow managing to resist the charm I’m putting out.
“Uhh, sorry to pause the music but we have a request,” the lead singer says into the mic. “Our friend Bev told us there’s a certain someone in this crowd who plays the drums, and we have been told her favorite song is ‘I Need Never Get Old’ by Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. It’s also one of our favorites. And we want her to come play with us, since she’s already been in a famous band and all.”
Bev spins around and beams at Jenny who takes a step back.
“No,” she whispers.
“So uh, Jenny Snowdon, obviously we are huge fans of your brother, Josh, and would be so honored to play with you.” He scans the crowd and Jenny backs up into me, bringing with her that damn cherry smell.
I have two options, lean in and smell her while everyone stares at us, or push her away from me. I take the second option, preferring not to get hard in front of everyone since I’m halfway there with her against me.
Pushing her forward makes her turn back, gasping at my betrayal as the singer’s eyes land on her. Bev grabs her hand and pulls her up onto the stage.
Bev grabs the mic and shouts in, “Jenny is a shit-hot musician because of course she is.” Bev laughs and rolls her eyes, making everyone else laugh. “Not sure how many of you know this, but she was the drummer in her brother Josh’s band for a summer when she was seventeen and the band was just coming up.” Bev pushes Jenny to the drums where the drummer hands her his sticks. He grins at her in a way that makes me wanna punch off his face, but I’m too stunned to move.
She smells like heaven, plays hockey better than I do, dances like she’s paid to do it, kills at paintball the same way, and she plays the drums?
Fuck me.
Everyone is cheering and clapping. Brady places a hand on his chest and gives me the look. The one that says I better nail that fucking redhead or else. But I’m way ahead of him.
Jenny’s mouth parts to protest, but the drummer picks up the tambourine and moves to the other side of the stage.
The guitar and bass players begin.
They play a couple of rounds of the intro, staring back at Jenny who is in shock. Her hands start to move with the other instruments, drumming softly.
The musicians grin and nod to her beat then turn around to us. The whole song starts over again, making the intro crazy long.
This time Jenny beats those drums.
She starts dancing exactly as she did in the living room except now she’s actually got drums.
She isn’t trying to be sexy; she’s an intense drummer and this song is somehow in her blood.
The singers are bringing the music.
The drums are building.
“You working at catching flies?” Beverly asks as she slides up next to me.
“How did you know she played in the band?”
“Just because jerking off with a bunch of guys is your job, don’t mean it’s mine.” She scoffs.
“No, really,” I press but my stare is stuck on the girl flinging the drumsticks.
“I had one job in this wedding, Lori. Make sure the guest list was perfect. When Stan Levisohn replaced himself and his wife, I vetted Sukii and Jenny through Stan. He didn’t bring up the gold medals or the fact she’s an assassin, but he did joke that if the band canceled, Jenny could entertain us. I looked up old Twin Peeks videos from when Stan said she toured with them, found a video of her playing the drums on YouTube. Sukii said this was her favorite song.” Bev shrugs like this is no big deal.
“That’s creepy.”
“No, what’s creepy is you’re pining for Sami ten years later, and at her wedding no less, when this goddess is right in front of you.” She motions her head at Jenny.
“Okay, we need to talk about this. Firstly, I’m not pining for Sami. Maybe I find her attractive and sometimes imagine dirty things when I stare at her, but I’m admitting nothing and guilty of less than that. Secondly, I have a rule about hooking up with girls at weddings,” my voice cracks because neither of us believes the line right now. Particularly, since I’d already convinced myself that fucking Jenny needed to be the next thing I did.
“Oh my God, you and your rules. Trust me, she isn’t up for a serious relationship, Lori,” Bev spits the words out with a laugh as the song ends. “I was thinking something less permanent. One night in your shared cabin. That’s more her speed, anyway. Just get fucked, Lori, you’ll feel better!” Bev slaps me in the arm and walks away as Jenny hurries off the stage while everyone cheers.
The drummer takes back his seat and Bev’s insane words float through my mind.
Get fucked.
Jenny blushes and makes her way to the bar, clearly embarrassed by the attention. Despite Bev’s weird meddling almost killing my vibe, my feet are walking that way before I have something to say so I lean against the bar next to her, staring like a psychopath, still shocked.
She orders a shot and drinks it back, wiping her mouth with her hand. Her fingers are trembling a little when she puts the glass down on the wet counter.
“So you’re an assassin, a drummer, and a lead scorer for Team Canada?” I ask loudly. “Anything else?”
“You never listen, Lori.” Her eyes l
ift from the counter as she turns to face me, staring up through her lashes. “I told you I’m retired. Besides, I heard it’s you who’s the lead scorer right now.” Her lush red lips toy with a grin and I realize she’s flirting.
My cock twitches. “Well, I mean—maybe. Where’d you learn to play the drums like that?”
“My mom was a music teacher. We all played instruments. I haven’t done that since I was seventeen, not on a stage. And forgot how amped up it makes me.” She blinks and catches her breath, wiping her flushed cheeks. “Do you want to fuck me, Lawrence?” she asks flatly and for some reason her saying my full name is hotter than it’s ever been.
“Yes, pleas—I mean, yeah. If I’m being honest I’ve wanted to from the moment you first yelled at me,” I say, wishing I might have skipped the weird “please” part.
“Then let’s go.” She walks away from the bar, leaving me leaning against it, completely confused.
Brady’s watching the entire thing from about fifteen feet away, but he’s obviously gotten the gist, as he’s pointing after her and shouting, “Run!” His eyes are so wide, I see the strobe lights in the whites.
The realization of what just happened hits me.
I turn and sprint, finding her driving her golf cart away, swerving the damned thing all over the road. But my feet don’t stop. The dress shoes are killing me and my leg hurts from no real warmup, but the band is playing something loud and fun, motivating me to sprint harder. I cut across the field as she drives the stupid cart all over hell’s half acre to try to get home through the woods.
We arrive at the same moment. I’m huffing my breaths, standing at the stairs of my cabin, trying to look cool but all the cool is gone. She’s leaning on the golf cart and no longer wearing her dress. The swerving was her undressing. She steps away in red high heels, a white push-up bra, and those same white shorts-style underwear.
She staggers a tiny bit on the gravel in her heels, moving me forward to catch her.
Before thinking, I scoop her into my arms and turn, storming for my cabin. She’s laughing. It’s a little nervous and crazy sounding as I fumble for the stupid key. The moment we’re in my cabin, I set her down and we pause. It lasts a tense second before she shoves me against the wall and attacks.
